The Tale of the Moops, Free stories, Open Calls and more!

100% true, even for boy writers. More on this later.

A friend recently asked why people call me Moops (which you may or may not have known, but they do), so I decided to tell the story here.

If any of you remember Seinfeld, there was an episode in which George plays Trivial Pursuit with the bubble boy. On the last question, George asks "Who invaded Spain in the 8th century?"

The bubble boy answers "The Moors"--which is correct. Due to a misprint on the card, however, George says "No, the card says Moops."

They get into a fight, the bubble boy pops his bubble, and Seinfeld-style hilarity ensues.

Fast forward to me at the Air Force Academy. My freshmen year math instructor was a huge Seinfeld fan and started calling me Moops. A few others picked it up, but it didn't quite stick as a name.

Years later, I got to my first operational squadron. Someone in that squadron remembered me from that math class, called me Moops, and this time the name took off like wildfire. Which was fine with me, because in pilot training they'd called me Snores as I proved myself to be academically narcoleptic.

Anyway, there's your story time for the day. I spent seventeen years as an adult, pilot, and officer with everyone calling me Moops. Such is the military.

Now, much to tell since last I monologued. I recently joined a site called Vocal Media, where people post stories. I got pulled in by a story contest--with the prompt "anything involving a barn owl". Since I am a Night Owl by virtue of having served in the 67th Special Operations Squadrons ("Once a Night Owl, Always a Night Owl"), I couldn't resist. Check out my story, a tale of loss and recovery. If you like it, tell your friends.

https://vocal.media/fiction/bleak-december

Just to avoid being the guy who joined for a contest and did nothing else, I added a story I wrote for another prompt a while back. An LA journalist gives an interview to a mysterious investment banker. Enjoy!

https://vocal.media/fiction/interview-with-the-fire-guy

Yes, they're both free, though I do make a haypenny for every read. So, if you could each invite a hundred thousand or so of your friends to give these a look, I can retire from this life of crime. Oops--I mean honest work. Yeah.

Another exciting development in my writing career--I've learned it's stupid easy to put what are otherwise free stories up on Amazon for a dollar.

I assume everyone reading this has already read these stories, so I was hoping those of you who liked them could check in on Amazon, call yourself an "early reader" and post a review for me. I already appreciate all of you, but I'd appreciate you just a little bit more if you could do that for me.

To expound, I'd be greatly appreciative of reviews on anything of mine you've read, but particularly these for right now.

https://www.amazon.com/Ants-Go-Marching-Tale-Deathmage-ebook/dp/B09RJMXV4Y

https://www.amazon.com/Blind-Fury-Depik-Horsemen-Universe-ebook/dp/B09RJXFCY2

Okay, onto the new releases!

Since my last newsletter, Overrun had gone live!

The Grausian Interstellar Empire has fallen and the ruins are for the taking. In the Twenty Seventh Century that means whoever can field the best military, and on the DMZ worlds, that means Private Military Contractors. Five stories that explore the world introduced to great acclaim and rave reviews in “The Irish Brigade”.

Overrun: (J.F. Holmes) Bravo Company, Second Battalion of The Irish Brigade, Hibernia Arms LLC, gets caught in the middle of a civil war after the end of their contract. Lt. Lashar An -Selene, one of the few xenos in the Brigade, goes on the run after a disastrous battle but has to risk his freedom to rescue his friend.

Most Wanted: (J.F. Holmes) The agents of the Terran Union Bureau of Investigation, Section 6: War Criminal Apprehension, chase a mass murderer from planet to planet. Each agent struggles with their obligation to the Law versus the desire for revenge.

Slamming: (J.F. Holmes) The men and women of the Drakes use their war surplus tanks to break the siege of a human city. Their newest recruit is tasked with keeping their fusion reactor running at all costs through brutal combat and cold weather. Along the way he wants to earn a better nickname than 'Scrub' but may not be prepared for the price of a new one.

Milk Run: (Casey Moores) A Terran Marine Corps Search and Rescue Unit reforms after the war to ply their trade as mercenaries. Along the way they learn the hard truth about loyalty, lives and money and which one means more to the bottom line.

The Empresses Price: (Armondo Borboa) After the trumpets have faded and the casualties are hidden away in the record books, the Terran military learns the ancient meaning behind Kipling’s “For it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an` Chuck him out, the brute!"

Get it here:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B09PPTBHQ6

Next up, James Chandler's follow up to They Call Me Princess, set in this Fallen World, is Revenant! For the Fallen World fans, I'll have my own short story and novel coming out later this year. So, in the meantime, get caught up!

The Eureka Bubble is no longer isolated from a world still struggling after the apocalyptic finale to the Corporate Wars. Regaining contact with the outside communities helped cure the problems of dwindling resources, but it also brought new challenges for the Bubblers to overcome.

Princess, a.k.a. Kelly Ansen, has already learned first-hand how dangerous this new reality could be, and she barely survived. Recognizing the Bubble holds a wealth of resources compared to most of the rest of the world, Princess will stop at nothing to protect her home. Enlisting her brother Scott and former Obsidian Agent Morgan Campbell, she continues to work toward a future where the Bubble and its neighbors can embrace life beyond mere survival.

But the resources of the Bubble make a tempting prize for anyone with the guts and the power to take them. When Princess’ father returns with a squad of Specialists and Con Mods and decides he wants the Bubble for his own, can Princess and her allies stop them from repeating the mistakes and horrors of the past, or will she become just another victim of this Fallen World?

https://www.amazon.com/Revenant-Fallen-World-Book-15-ebook/dp/B09RPC1F5F

For those following the Hit World series by William Alan Webb and Larry Hoy, the anthology is out. Who doesn't like a good anthology?

Want somebody dead?

If you do, the solution’s easy. Hire LifeEnders, Inc. You pay. We slay.

Whether you know it or not—whether you believe it or not—the world is a dangerous place full of criminals, terrorists, monsters, sorcerers, extra-terrestrials, inter-dimensional predators, and embarrassing relatives. And, for the right price, they can all go away.

Twenty years ago, LifeEnders became the first legal corporation of assassins to operate on U.S. soil. Today, LEI has a hit man in every state and many foreign nations. Getting rid of the scammer who catfished Grandma only requires the requisite credit line, and porch thieves now think twice if a security camera might identify them. You pay; we slay. No questions asked.

But it’s not just about putting a target in the cross-hairs. Sometimes the job requires ‘Special Skills,’ and that costs extra. If a giant orange rhinoceros appears in the sky? Call LEI and let the Special Activities Division handle it…and don’t forget your credit card.

The first Hit World anthology brings together an all-star lineup of amazing authors guaranteed to keep you awake past bedtime.

Sorry. (Not Sorry)

https://www.amazon.com/You-Pay-Slay-World-Book-ebook/dp/B09R8VLM58

The latest from Three Ravens Publishing-

Welcome to Paranormal City!

There’s hospitality for all here, be you vampire, demon, walking dead, or one of the werepeople. We've something for everyone, no matter what your needs or tastes.

Listen to some of the tales of those who live here. They’ll tell you this is the greatest city in the world.

Oh, and mundanes are also welcome. Just try to fit in.

A Devil’s dozen tales from Paranormal City for your delight… and terror.

https://www.amazon.com/Paranormal-City-Stephen-Oliver-ebook/dp/B09PZHGRQW

ASPIRING WRITERS!

I think I'll start posting this periodically--Three Ravens always has open calls for stories for those of you who've put your ideas down on paper. Or perhaps check out their prompts and see what your brain does with it. Everyone starts somewhere. Don't doubt yourself and just go for it, you never know.

https://threeravenspublishing.com/open-calls/

Finally, onto the good deals.